By Walter Pike
Migrants who cross the border illegally are limited in the ways to claim asylum. The migrant must demonstrate by their own testimony that they suffered persecution because of their beliefs and have a "Well founded fear" of future persecution in their home country. If a migrant fails to apply for asylum within one year of entering the U.S., they will be barred from receiving asylum.
Poverty is NOT a reason for asylum. The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1951 Refugee Convention codified the rights of asylum when based on persecution based on race, religion, class, gender, nationality, or political affiliation or when fleeing their home country during war or political upheaval.
As of September 16, 2022 Biden's open border has cost about $100 billion! This is blatant and costly non-enforcement of our immigration laws. Homeland Security estimated during the Trump administration that building a wall across the Southern border would have cost $22 billion. A border wall and limited points of entry would help prevent an increase in crime and fentanyl/ drug overdose deaths.
We have cities that consider themselves "migrant sanctuaries”. Their laws help obstruct immigration enforcement and shield criminals from ICE by denying access. No one has the right to pick and choose which laws to follow. I would love to go 80 m.p.h. on Highway 44 but that would only cause chaos or in my case: my death.
We have: 8 U.S. Code § 1373 which states that “a Federal, State, or local government entity or official may not prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual.”
Governors Abbott and DeSantis have sent migrants to sanctuary cities which are supposedly more "welcoming". Biden has shipped migrants throughout the country (many times in the dead of night).
We need to enforce our immigration laws. Congress has the responsibility to change them if necessary. The Executive Branch has the responsibility to enforce laws that have been passed by Congress. Selective law enforcement or non-enforcement must not be allowed.